Fender Squier Series / Big Fender - Little Squier

MutantParty · Post by **MutantParty** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:40 am

I've got one of those weird "Big Fender - Little Squier" stratocasters. And whoever had it before the person who gave it to me had scratched off the little Squier logo on the ball of the headstock and also the "Made in:" line, so all thats left there is a black Fender Logo and the stratocaster text.

I'm assuming they were trying to wish it into a "real" fender.

I was trying to figure out what year and the country of origin was on it, but i cant find anything on serial numbers that start with "T".

Any word on these?

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:55 am

I think those are very early squiers from the early 80s.

check this site: http://www.21frets.com/

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:58 am

but the serial number starts with a T? hmmm, weird....

those JV squiers are getting to be quite pricey these days though.

MutantParty · Post by **MutantParty** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:06 am

yeah, weird, i'm thinking it's not a jv series... and the only thing i can find on T serial numbers is for actual 94/95 MIJ fenders. but I dont think thats right.

mystery squier is a mystery.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:17 am

yea, that's all I could find too. got any pics? any shots of it's innards?

MutantParty · Post by **MutantParty** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:30 am

pics in the cut - excuse the shitty cellphone shots

Headstock front, you can sorta see where the "made in" bit was scratched off, as well as the little "Squier Series"

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Back of headstock with tuners and serial

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neck pocket - says st-360m

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heel of neck - st-360m

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Mages · Post by **Mages** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:40 am

hmmm, to me it looks like a '90s instrument... the tuners, the decal, the serial number placement... it doesn't look like a JV at all that's for sure

JamesSmann · Post by **JamesSmann** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:16 am

dots and i have strats that were Fender "Squier Series" strats...made in Mexico. I'd compare them to a standard MIM Strat these days.

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:55 pm

I saw one of the 24 inch Strats on Craicslist the other day. Made me wonder about em.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:07 am

St. Jimmy wrote:dots and i have strats that were Fender "Squier Series" strats...made in Mexico. I'd compare them to a standard MIM Strat these days.

ahah, that's right, I knew I head about these somewhere before. They are the early MIM strats. so are these good guitars?

it's interesting that the first MIJ and the MIM were both the Fender "squier series" even though they were separated by many years.

MutantParty · Post by **MutantParty** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 5:23 pm

Ah here we go. Mystery solved. Thanks guys.

Keith Brawley - VP Fender ca. 2000 wrote:The guitar in question was made for a short time, as I have indicated in other posts, when we had the production capacity in Mexico and not overseas. All of the MIM Fender Squier series I have seen were nothing less than a MIM Fender Standard with downgraded hardware...same neck...same body.

Keith Brawley - VP Fender ca. 2000 also wrote:MIM means great quality to me, as does MIJ. The difference is in value. When the exchange rate was 150 yen to the dollar, it madew sense to build those guitars in Japan. At 110 yen, you'd pay 40% more for the exact same guitar if we kept making it in Japan just because of currency exchange rates.

Beyond that, the MIM product utilizes necks and bodies made in our Corona, CA factory, which keeps the machinery humming and the factory efficient...keeping prices for USA-made product down. Not to mention the great synergy in working with a world-class, Fender-owned and operated factory that's a truck ride away instead of a contracted factory (also great but an ocean away).

Also, many of our senior managers and experienced craftsmen in Corona speak Spanish. (A proud Fender company culture since the Pre-CBS days) Few speak Japanese. This is one more advantage of building in Mexico. No language barrier for us.

I have to tell you, I'm so proud of the Fender people in Mexico and the absolutely fantastic job they do, that I don't miss the MIJ models at all.